Representatives from the Laconia Housing Authority asked Belknap County commissioners to provide letters of support for a pending state grant application after an advocacy push restored $700,000 to the New Hampshire budget for the congregate housing services pilot.

Patrick Wood, representing the housing authority, said the earlier pilot had a $1.5 million appropriation split between Manchester and Laconia; the current budget line is $700,000 and state officials told applicants the funds will likely be awarded to only one provider. “It is gonna go to one participant,” Wood said during the meeting, and the authority prepared statistics showing they served 38 unique individuals with an average monthly participation of about 27 people during the pilot.

Wood said the Laconia Housing Authority voted to continue funding the program for the first two to three months of the fiscal year to bridge service while the grant decision is pending and that the program includes services such as meals and monthly nurse visits to help participants remain housed and compliant with lease terms. “Part of this program includes meals… it keeps them housed, keeps them in compliance, keeps them from receiving lease violations and possible evictions,” he said.

Commissioners and the authority discussed the application timeline: the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services will issue the application form and told applicants they would have a tight turnaround—Wood said DHS indicated applicants would have two to three weeks to return the completed application once it is released. The housing authority requested letters of recommendation from the county and suggested it will also seek support from the city council and county legislators. Wood added that Senator Lang had been active in getting the budget language included and was “in the loop.”

No formal county action was taken at the meeting beyond the housing authority’s request for support; commissioners asked county administration to work with the authority on talking points and said they would consider drafting a letter for the application.